Pipe wrench



March 22, O, WE

PIPE WRENCH 0 Filed Maqch 21, 1930 gmenkw Patented Mar. 22, .1932.

; UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

WILLIAM! 0. .TI-IEWES, .OF NORTH BIDGEV'ILLE, OHIO' PIPE WRENCH Application filed March 21, 1930. Serial No. 437,719@

" This invention relates to wrenchesand linore particularly to pipe wrenches wherein {one of the jaws is adjustable longitudinally relative torthe other.

embodying my invention;

An object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrenchin which the longitudinally adjlistable jaw may somove relativelytothe "stationaryjaw, as to permit the jaw to better. bite or grip'the pipe or roundwork obj ectsto which the wrench may be applled.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'afwrench which may be easily-released from the object gripped.

. Another object of the invention relates to an improved manner in holding a longitudinally adjustable jaw within the body of the wrench.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved guiding sleeve for. the shank of the longitudinally adjustable jaw.

Still anotherobject of the invention, and

the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

"Figfl'is an elevational view of a wrench F 2 is a vertical medial sectional view of the wrench of Fig. 1 showing the relative pof sitionof the various parts; I I .Figs. 3 and 4 areplan and side elevational.

views of a modified form of spring. steel ide adapted to be used inthe wrench togui e the movable jaw shank i Figs. 5 and 6'are plan and side elevational views respectively of the guide illustrated in section in Fig.2. p Referring now particularly to the drawings throughout which like parts are designated by like reference characters, there is illustrated awrench which includes an upperframe 2 providedwith an integral handle 3. The frame is provided with an aperture 4 which extends longitudinally through the upper endthereof-throu h which the shank 6 of a movable jaw may e disposed.

' Apair of opposed bosses 7-extend from the handle spaced from the upper frame portions and provideabutmentsfor an adjustingnut 8. i The adjustment nut 8 is internally threaded and is disposed on the shanl;

6 of the movable jaw. The nut is adapted to abut the frame'onone side and the abutment the jaw longitudinally.

'7 on the other side and when rotated, moves The adjustable jaw as previously stated 55 includes the usual threaded shank 6, and the inverted 'L-shaped head 5 and is provided with a gripping surface 18 adapted to'co-operate with the gripping surface 9 of the fixed aw '10 to hold round work or the like.

The aperture 4 whichextends through the frame is sufiiciently large to permit a-s'pring steel guide l1,better-illustrated in-Figs. 5 and 6, to be inserted thereinbetweenthejaw,

shank and the surrounding frame. The

guide is of channel-shaped cross section and is provided with a pair of outwardly extendng spring tongues 12 adapted to engage the *n'arrowsides of the framein the aperture .4.

A recess 13 may be provided in the aperture 4 in one of the, narrowzwalls, into which one ofthe spring tongues lQ may rest to prevent the guide being displaced fromthe aperture I when the jaw is-reciprocated. -The Walls of the aperture converge-toward thelower portion thereof, thus preventing the guide from reciprocating downward, as. viewed in the figures, when the shank is. moved downward. The oppositely disposed spring tongues'l2 are adapted to hold the spring steel guide in a centrally located position with the paralcharacter has the movable -jaw which is capable of. lateral movement in both directions thus facilitating the gripping action,

and providing an eflicient ratchet action in 7 places where it is desired to alternately grip and turnthe article and-" then move the Wrench to gain a fresh grip.

In Figs. 3 and 4,,there has been showna V r modified form of guide which includes a substantia'lly'tubular' member 20, having a pair I of tongues 21' which extend'from the sides aware that numerous and extensive departand which tongues are adapted to engage the Walls of the frame in the apertures 4 in substantially the same manner as the insert of Figs. 5 and 6.

However, in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the sides of the guide extend entirely around the shank with the edges 22 of the insert abutting each other in order that the guide will guide but not bind the shank of the jaw. V V

The normal position of the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw when the wrench is not in use, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Upon applying the wrench to a pipe or round object it will be found that the jaw will move laterally as viewed in the figures. This lateral movement of the jaw is accompanied by an arcuate movement of the shank with the center of the guide as the pivot. The guide being immovable on one side, that is the tongue 12 being seated in the recess 13, the opposite tongue is free to slide upward and downward upon the opposite wall in the aperture allowing the guide to move slightly, which'allows the arcuate movement to the ends of the movable jaw and shank resulting in an arcuate or lateral movement of the jaw.

It may readily be seen that in an improved construction of this type, the operations required to manufacture a guide such as shown and described are relatively few, and inexpensive. As theguide .may be formed out of pressed steel and made the proper shape by suitable dies.

With a guide constructed as disclosed, the shank may be removed from the wrench and none of the difliculties of assembly experienced when it is desired to put the same back together or to insert a new shank.

Having thus described the invention, 1 am ures may be made from the construction illustrated and described, but that such departures cannot be made without departing from the scope of the invention...

I claim: 7

1. A wrench including a frame havinga stationary jaw, a handle, and an apertured projection, a movable jaw having a shank adapted to extend through said aperture, an adjusting nut on the, shank, adapted to engage said projection, a guide for said shank within the aperture, said guide including a pair of guiding walls and a pair of integral tongues adapted to retain the guide in a predetermined aligned position within the aperture, one of the tongues engaginga recess in the aperture to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and the other tongue being free to slide upon thewall of the aperture.

2. A wrench including a frame having a stationary jaw, a handle, and an apertured aro'ection a movable 'aw havin a shank adapted to extend through said aperture,.an adjusting nut on the shank, adapted to engage said projection, a guide for said shank within the aperture, said guide including a pair of guiding walls and a pair of integral tongues adapted to retain the guide in a predetermined aligned position within the aperture, one of the tongues engaging a recess in the aperture to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and the other tongue being free to slide upon the wall of the aperture, said guide being arcuately movable within the aperture and guiding said jaw shank.

3. A wrench with an integral handle formed with an apertured projection, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a pair of abutments formed on the handle adjacent said projection, a shank upon the movable aw adapted to extend through the aperture in said projection and between said abutments, said shank being threaded and an adjusting nut adapted to be threaded upon said shank and positioned between said projection and said abutments, the aperture in said projection being sufficiently large to receive therein a guiding member for said jaw, a recess at one side of said aperture, said guiding member including a sheetmetal guide of substantially U- shaped cross section, having a pair of integral outwardly extending tongues adapted to en gage the sides of the aperture to hold the guide in a centralized position and said shank being guided by said guide.

4. A wrench having an integral handle, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a projection upon the handle formed with a longitudinal aperture, a pair of abutments formed on the handle adjacent said projection, a shank upon the movable jaw adapted to extend through the aperture and between said-last mentioned abutments, said shank being threaded and an adjusting nut adapted to be threaded upon said shank and positioned between said projection and said abutments, said aperture and said projection being sufficiently large to receive thereln a guiding member for said jaw,

the handle being formed with. a recess at one side of said aperture, said guiding member including a sheet metal guide of substantially U-shaped cross section, having a pair of integral outwardly extending tongues adapted to engage the sides of the aperture to hold the guide in a centralized position and said shank being guided by said guide, said guide engaging the shank ofthe movable jaw on all sides. 7

5. A wrench havmg an lntegralhandle, a fixed aw, a movable aw, a projection formed on the handle and having a longitudinal disposed aperture therethrough, apair of abutments formed on the handle adjacent said projection, a shankupon the movable jaw adapted to extend through the aperturev and between said abutments, said shank being threaded and an adjusting nut adapted to be threaded upon said shank and positioned between said projection and said abutments,

said aperture bein sufiiciently large to receive' therein a gui ing member for said jaw, the handle being formed witha recess atone side of said aperture, said guiding members 7 including a sheet metal guide of substantially U-shaped cross section, having a pair of integral outwardly extending tongues adafited to engage the sides of the aperture to old the guide in a centralized position, and said shank being guided by said guide, said guide loosely engaging the shankof the movable jaw on all sides.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 19th day of March, 1930.

WILLIAM O. THEWES. 

